Work on Big School Project to Begin Soon

Officials say construction on the North Hampton School greenhouse will likely begin at some point between the middle of June and the second week of July and be completed in roughly one week, leaving more than enough time for the work to be finished before the start of the school year.

Bob Hamilton, a member of the North Hampton Budget Committee and the school's greenhouse committee, told the North Hampton School Board on Thursday that between $20,000 and $25,000 still needs to be raised for the educational facility.

Hamilton said that remainder will likely be raised "in the next few weeks," though, thanks to various fundraising initiatives, like the return of the flamingo flocking campaign in May, and other donations. Once the fundraising hits 95 percent of the $60,000 goal, Hamilton said site work will begin at NHS in preparation of the construction and installation of the greenhouse.

On Thursday, the North Hampton School Board approved the greenhouse committee's construction plan and proposal to locate the 30-foot-wide, 50-foot-long polycarbonate greenhouse at the end of the school's parking lot, just to the right of the utility house along the woods.

Each student in the school will be able to have a chance to learn a variety of lessons in the "living laboratory" once it's constructed, said Hamilton, who also got approval Thursday to seek out a building permit for the greenhouse.

"I think it's a wonderful thing for the community," said board member Henry Marsh, who was among several individuals Thursday to praise the work on the greenhouse as well as the generosity of the community.